1988-02-17 Char-Koosta News

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5\ news puBCication of the Salish and 'Kootenai Tribes
of the Jlathead Indian Reservation
Chief Charlo of the Salish VOLUME 16, NUMBER 39
THE COLDEST MONTH
Chief Koostatah of the Kootenai FEBRUARY 17, 1988
Community discusses healing through values, respect, Tribalism
Approximately 75 people from a variety of backgrounds and age groups gathered at the St. Ignatius Community Center Feb. 9-12 to discuss the hopes, dreams and values they'd like to weave together to build the Blue Bay Healing Center.
The participants gathered into seven small groups to list their personal values and the values they thought would contribute to the recovery of each other.
"We'd like to integrate the theme: The honor of one is the honor of all; the hurt of one is the hurt of all," said one participant as she discussed her group's list of values.
High on everyone's list was spirituality, love, trust, Indian traditions, history and Tribalism, respect, language and nutrition. Discussion also centered around the tools that could be utilized to nurture those values and goals. As the values were discussed, the consensus turned toward the concept of a "wholis-tic" healing center to treat all ailments of the mind and soul.
"We got some really concrete ideas from this meeting," said Alchohol Component director Anna Whiting-Sorrell. "Our job now is to follow through on those ideas and see that they
become reality."
The purpose of the community meeting was summed up quite well by guest-professional Cathleen Brooks, "If you want to know what's going to help them, find out what's going to help you, because you are them."
She said the Blue Bay Healing Center wasn't formed in a grant or when the Council said they could use the land, but it started with a concept, a belief that it would happen.
"Meetings had been held before to discuss the center," said Brooks, "but nothing took off because [the approach] was too practical. The intellectual approach didn't work," she said. "A complete surrender will solve the problem."
As Brooks discussed what she thought (Continues on page three)
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Timber falling to be studied
Salish Kootenai College and the Tribal Personnal Office have come up with a ten-week training course for timber fallers, beginning March 23.
"This is the first time this program has ever been done in the United States," says SKC president Joe McDonald.
The course is open to 12 applicants who must be enrolled members of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Approved students will meet weekdays for six
hours each day.
The BIA Forestry branch will be setting up an area for the trainees to work in. A special sale has also been set up, the proceeds of which will go towards financing the faller-students' weekly stipend.
All the equipment necessary will be provided, including chainsaws. However, since it's a formal college course, (Concludes on page three)